Episode 117: Jamion Christian, Leadership Enhancement Plan

Episode 117: Jamion Christian, Leadership Enhancement Plan

Guest: Jamion Christian, George Washington University Head Coach

In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, George Washington University head coach Jamion Christian joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss his leadership enhancement plan.

Christian previously was the head coach at Siena and Mount St. Mary's. Mount St. Mary's hired Christian as head coach in 2012. Christian implemented an up-tempo offense and “mayhem” defense, comparable to VCU's "havoc" defense popularized by Shaka Smart. After his first season at the helm, Christian was named finalist for the 2013 Joe B. Hall Award, presented to the top first-year head coach in Division 1.

During the 2012-13 season, the Mountaineers qualified for the NEC tournament for the first time since the 2009–10 season. As a No. 5 seed, Mount St. Mary's upset Bryant and Robert Morris, but lost to Long Island University in the championship game. During the 2013-14 season, the Mountaineers won the NEC tournament and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, their first appearance since 2008.

In 2018, Christian became the head coach at Siena. He guided the Saints to a nine-win turnaround from the previous year, finishing 17–16 overall and 11–7 in MAAC play, and a second place finish. It would be his only season on the job as he accepted the head coaching position at George Washington on March 21, 2019.

Breakdown

1:00 - Leadership Enhancement Plan

3:00 - Developing Culture

5:00 - Applying it to his Team

8:00 - Gratitude

10:00 - Ongoing Maintenance

12:00 - Hedgehog Concept

14:00 - Uncomfortable in a lot of situations

18:00 - Process of his Freshmen

22:00 - Freedom to Speak for Freshmen

25:00 - Rules within his program

27:00 - Part of his Recruitment Pitch